Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-06

1t has been said on the street to-day that
parties who were at the house last night
between IL and 2 o'clock state there was
then no indication of fire anywhere, but
nevertheless at that time it was suggested
that it would be a good thing to place a
Waterman over the premises until morn
ing. This suggestion, unfortunately,
WAS NOT CARRIED OUT,
it being deemed an idle and unnecessary
precaution. The sequel proved otherwise.
The fire was trst seen by some of the
railroad employees, and in few moments
a dozen men were sounding as many loco,
motive whistles in the b. & o. yards, ac'
cOmpanying this with vigorous ringing
of engine bells. This unwonted din soor
aroused the entire population, and in al
incredibly short space of time the streets
were filled with multitude of men,
women and children, all hurrying to the
Scene. The buildings in the portion o.
the town in which the fire originated were
mostly small frame structures, highly
cOmbustible, and the flames spread
with terrible rapidity, by four O'Clock
fully q dozen houses being well
alight and the fire working its
way rapidly through TO Railroad street
near the bridge which spans the b. & o.
tracks. Several bucket hrigades were
soon formed, but glance at the situation
convinced everybody that the means al
hands were grossly inadequate to fight the
fire with any possible chance of success
and kilograms, of which the following is q
copy, were at once dispatched 10 Wheel
ing and Parkersburg:i
THE APPEAL FOR AID.
GRAFTON, w. VA, July 5.
To Mayor SedJright:
A fire is now in progress at Grafton thai
we are powerless to fight. Please send on,
or two fire engines and men as soon rs pos
sibe. Bring to b. & o. depot and viii
arrange for transportation.
G. DUNLAP.
Parkersburg, headed by Mayor Camden
promptly responded with the engine and
entire fire brigade from that city. ThC
special train made up for the run, ant
engineered by Mr.. p. Flanery, made thu
trip of 104 miles in the unprecedented tim,
of two hours and ten minutes. Wheeling
for some reason did not respond to our ap
peal and our people will not forget her in
difference. Wheeling merchants got S2C
from Grafton to Sl.0O spent in Parkers
burg, and yet while our city was il
flames, our appeal for help was turned
over TO the decentralization Office.
The people of Wheeling will not forge
that, when their city was devastated by
food the people of Grafton came to theil
rescue without demanding an indemnity
We will take it, however, that the people
of Wheeling are not responsible for thi:
unnatural conduct toward a neighborinl
city in their hour of distress.
All honor to the brave men who 50
nObly came to our assistance. They de.
serve, and take back with them the
thanks and everlasting gratitude of this en-,
tire community, for though the fire was
virtually vanquished before their arrival
they came TO our aid as quick rs a locomo
tive running fifty miles an hour could
bring them.
The fire la ted nearly three hours, and
at one time during its progress it was
feared that the entire town would be
burned up. Fortunately there was little
or no wind stirring and the blaze went
nearly straight upwards.
HOW THE FIRE SPREAD.
The population fought the flames will
the energy of despair, but notwithstand
ing every exertion the fire spread with
alarming rapidity, eating its way through
the block to Railroad street, and at tht
samI time extending up and down unit
the long square from the Standard Office
to the Brinkman block was one solid mass
OF flames. But the fire did not stop here
Crossing LatrObe street, it attacked The
triangular block of building touched by
Bridge, LatFObe aud Lain streets, and il
an hour It also was d mass o.
blazing ruins. The fire several time,
threatened to cross Main street, the FRS
National Bank building being on fire re
peatedly, but each time the watchfulness o
the uuc.s-et brigade prevented the flame.
obtaining hold. IioT time tine fate o
the Brlnkman block trembled in iIe bel
ance, but the stout front walls and tn,
thick iron shutters aided the bucket brig
AIDE materially, and the town was saved
from entire DESTRUCTION.
LOCOMOTIVES AID IN THE FIGHf.
On the west end of the square. at tn,
corner of Railroad street, McCabe's bakery
caught fire and threatened the adioininl
portion Of the town. A hurried consulta
ton ended in a novel method o
fire sighting. A stout 2I-inct
cable was procuIed and passed
around the house, the ends being attached
to powerful locomotive. Steam was ther
put on, and the entire house WAS dragged
from its foundation down upon the rail
road track and out of harms way, thu.
making a gap and checking the progress.
OF the hre il that direction. Never be
fore was such heroic eRorts made TO CHECK
the flames. Not only was every MAN a4i
boy fighting with all their might, but thu
women turned out and formed into line Il
pass buckets of water from railroad tank:
and wells to the threatened buildings, anC
their efioEts and examples at critical
time turned the toe O$ netVlhg TIE tired
and worn out men to fresh exertiol
thus saving the Brinkman block.
AT THE HOTELS.
One OF tia G0sliest buildings burned wa:
the Valley HOUSE. a #ne brick building
owned by E. BOram, and erected at cosI
of $4,000. Very little furniture wa
saved, and the loss will be $15, 000 There
were over fifty people in the house at the
time the alarm was given, and the excite.
ment for time was terrible. The guests
were aroused from sleep, and ladies and
gentlemen were soon fleeing ffom their
rooms in their night clothes, with their
arms full Of clothing and Ealuables. The
building was soon on fire, but most of the
baggage was finally saved. At the Central